Three Home Broadband hub to return or not?

[neil43641]

Hello

My 24 month home broadband ends in 6 weeks. The contract says the MC801A hub needs to be returned to avoid a non-return fee of around £105. 

I would like to keep the hub and stick a Smarty or IDmobile unlimited SIM in it. Does Three chase for return of the hub and if I keep it and pay the non-return fee does it then belong to me?

Even if it has to go back I guess ebay is full of CPE 5G hubs for not a lot of ££.

[JonathanB]

Hi @neil43641,

Officially the device is on loan for the duration of the Three Home Broadband plan, so I would encourage you to return the router to Three.

However, as long as you keep your Direct Debit active, or watch out for a notification email, so that when the £105 fee is generated the payment is collected on time, there's no other measures I'm aware of. You'll usually receive a Royal Mail jiffy bag, and some emails within the next month or two after cancellation as reminders, then notice of the fee.

The devices are usually unlocked, but you may want to test the alternative SIM out first. Smarty and ID are MVNOs that use Three though, so I assume they should be fine, and I've certainly seen other Community members refer to using them with our routers in the past.

Thanks,
Jonathan